Tigers Open 2024 Season with Shutout of Lions
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis football team opened the much-anticipated 2024 season with a convincing 40-0 shutout victory over North Alabama on Saturday night at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The shutout is the first for the Tigers since Nov. 22, 2022, when they also beat the Lions, 59-0.
With the win, Memphis extended its home-opening win streak to 11-straight games and 11-0 against FCS opponents since 2013. The 40 points scored by the Tigers tonight makes it 20 or more points in 28-consecutive games – the longest active streak in the nation.
Both sides of the ball had their fair share of highlights Saturday night. Offensively, the team racked up 367 yards of offense and had 17 first downs. Defensively, the Tigers limited the Lions (0-2) to just 185 total yards, while forcing three turnovers, three sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Senior quarterback Seth Henigan completed 22-of-30 passes for 308 yards and two scores. Henigan’s second touchdown pass of the day was to tight end Brendan Doyle as it marked the 81 st passing touchdown of the senior’s career – moving him into a tie for second-most ever at Memphis with Danny Wimprine.
Nine Tigers caught balls in the win with senior wide receiver Roc Taylor leading the way with five catches for 87 yards. Demeer Blankumsee added three receptions for 46 yards while tight ends Anthony Landphere and Doyle each hauled in a touchdown.
On the ground, senior running back Mario Anderson Jr. scored a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries with 46 yards to pace the Tigers. Redshirt-junior running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. rushed in his first touchdown as a Tiger from five yards out to put Memphis up 40-0 early in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, redshirt-junior linebacker Chandler Martin led the unit with eight total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. As a team, the Tigers logged eight tackles for loss. Defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. and linebackers Elijah Herring and Bryce Edmondson each recorded a sack for the Tiger defense.
UP NEXT
The Tigers are back at home next weekend with an 11 a.m. kickoff against Troy (0-1) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Most Popular
Comments / 0